DOES anyone remember Caroline's Place in Wyndham Street? It closed 18 months ago, so perhaps not, yet some will say that it was the only true ''pub'' ever in Hongkong. The recent spate of letters about liquor licensing brings back memories of when we opened in October, 1986 - with that precious licence already in our hands, four weeks after applying for it and six weeks after we obtained possession of the premises. Now, that may have been a record, and indeed our case was very simple since it was small, in law a club, and this was before the improved and tougher requirements for safety, which have my full support. But our experience makes me feel certain that the Liquor Licensing Board and its officers are not to blame for the delays which so frequently occur. Look instead to the architects, designers and managers, who fail to inform themselves on the requirements, or expect too much; perhaps also the various inspecting officials who may take too long to respond and don't make sufficiently clear statements of what is to be done to rectify deficiencies. TOM BOYDE Pokfulam
